ASTANA: The fifth World Nomad Games ended on Friday with hosts Kazakhstan securing most medals and Pakistan coming in at 18th position with three medals.

Kazakhstan secured 115 medals including 44 gold medals with Kyrgyzstan second with a total of 65 medals, ahead of Russia (46). Pakistani athletes secured three bronze medals, winning their first medal on the opening day.

During the six-day event, Kazakhstan’s capital hosted around 2, 500 participants from 89 countries, bringing together representatives of various cultures and ethnicities in a grand celebration of sports and nomadic traditions.

Participants in the sports programme of the Games were competed in 21 different sports. Throu­ghout the week, around 100 events of the cultural programme had been held daily in the ethno-village — a special designated venue for the events.

The Games, presented as a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of nom­adic civilisations and the unique sports and traditions passed down through generations, included cultural performances and athletes’ parades. Compe­titions include horseback archery, martial arts, falconry, and traditional wrestling.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2024